With a referendum on SPLOST 9 scheduled for May 19, Augusta continues to pile decisions on spring elections that have historically drawn fewer voters than November contests.
Early voting begins in less than five months for Augusta mayor and five commission seats, in addition to the SPLOST 9 vote. The ballot may contain a referendum on revising Augusta’s charter, depending on the actions of a local committee.
Participation has lagged in Augusta’s spring elections since 2014, when state law shifted mayoral and commission elections in consolidated governments from November to May.
Before the change, Augusta elected the mayor and half of the commission in November midterms. Turnout reached nearly 50% in 2010, but when the first May election arrived in 2014, participation fell to 30% for the mayor and commission contests. That same day, voters rejected SPLOST 7. Turnout rebounded to 48% in November.
Turnout has remained low for most spring votes. The May 2018 mayor’s race drew 26% of registered voters, while that November’s governor contest saw 57.3% participate. SPLOST 8 passed in March 2021 with less than 6% turnout.
In May 2022, turnout was 28% for the mayor’s race and 19% for the runoff, compared with nearly 52% in November for the governor’s race. The November 2023 vote on a half-percent sales tax for a new arena had 12.7% turnout.
Turnout for the May 2024 referendum on giving the mayor voting powers reached almost 22%, while voting in the November general election hit 65%.
Five commission seats and the mayor’s office
The May ballot once again places the city’s top job and half the commission on the line. Voters in districts 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 will elect new or returning commissioners. Super District 10 covers districts 3, 6, 7 and 8.
Here is how those races shape up:
- District 2: The 2022 contest featured six candidates and drew about 22% turnout. Incumbent Commissioner Stacy Pulliam is not term-limited.
- District 4: Turnout was 30.7% in 2022, but winner Alvin Mason resigned last year. Lonnie Wimberly was elected to serve the remainder of the term, which runs through 2026. The May election will choose the commissioner whose new term begins in 2027.
- District 6: Commissioner Tony Lewis is eligible to run again. Turnout in 2022 was 25%.
- District 8: Commissioner Brandon Garrett is term-limited. He ran unopposed in 2022, when turnout reached 30.3%.
- Super District 10: John Clarke led the 2022 race with 49%, triggering a runoff won by Wayne Guilfoyle. Guilfoyle is not term-limited in 2026.
Along with leadership decisions, voters will be asked to approve SPLOST 9, Augusta’s next special purpose local option sales tax package. The commission is working to finalize a project list ahead of the May vote.
Candidate qualifying takes place in March, meaning the field for mayor and commission seats will firm up early in the spring.
